Thimbles… A Tool of Past & a Hobby of Today!

The Thimble has a long history since its inception, having been a tool for craftsmen and a source of inspiration for the collector. The most ancient thimble that exists to date is Roman, apparently found in the ruins of Pompeii and made of Bronze. Some collectors have found that some primitive thimbles were also made of bone, horn, ivory and leather and were found everywhere in the world.

During the fifteenth century, the humble thimble found another dimension for its use, rather than simply being a tool of the craftsmen, when the Elizabeth-I gave a thimble which was encrusted with precious stone to one of her ladies-in-waiting. Since then, the thimbles have evolved in a number of ways and they have gained new uses, becoming primarily both decorative and collectible, rather than simply practical.

Through the years, craftsmen who sew have come to recognise that thimbles can be quite useful objects to ease the difficulty of their work and during this period collectors have also learned that they are quite sought after collectors’ items.

Due to the mechanisation of the most of sewing works, the practical use of thimbles has declined. However thimbles are still being used in quilting, French hand sewing and other types of decorative needle work. As the thimble has become largely decorative, the collectors' interest in modern thimbles has not waned and if anything has increased.

The advancement in the science and new processes to make more suitable metals allow more detailed designs for the thimbles. New designs of thimbles are being issued to commemorate different events and characters like Christmas, football teams and Disney characters.

Thimble collection has become a popular hobby around the world. There are many reasons for its popularity but the most important among them are their reasonable prices and easy availability. There are two distinct classes of thimble collectors; one who are interested in their historic value and the others for their decorative value. Collectors' clubs have sprung up locally & nationally. The internet now connects collectors all over the world and collectors' societies have their own web pages. Collecting has also spawned a booming cottage industry in display racks, cabinets and domes.

The Thimble guild allows you to track down any particular thimble that you are looking for. You would really find this a wonderful world of thimbles just waiting to be discovered.